Just read about something new. A press release from a media event at New Yorks Tavern on the green reports:
The Lawn Club, a full half-acre of live grass that will make its debut of the top decks of the new Celebrity Solstice, scheduled to debut in November. Indeed, all four of the planned Solstice class ships will have similar lawns in their sterns. Each will feature a putting green, a bocce ball court, croquet and a place to have a picnic, all next to a patio featuring exhibitions of glass blowing and a new Sunset Bar.
Richard Fain, chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd,
Dan Hanrahan, Celebrity Cruises’ president and CEO
As Hanrahan asserted, these lawns are “definitely not a gimmick.” While neither he nor Fain would put a price tag on the new feature, they noted that the lawn will have a dedicated groundskeeper to keep it trim and watered – also a first on a cruise ship. (my note: The ship called “The World” that sold suites to people and travels, the world has a live lawn, and has for 6 plus years) The lawn takes up significant deck space and the turf itself will weigh in excess of 50 metric tons (which must be offset in a lower level of the ship). There also will be an irrigation system and yes, a lawn mower.
Indeed, as Hanrahan pointed out, it’s quite difficult to grow grass in a marine environment because of the salt, wind, onboard pollution controls and environmental issues. All of these things could have easily been avoided with artificial turf, but Celebrity clearly wanted to offer its passengers something different. “Everybody thinks this will be an amenity that our passengers will truly enjoy,” said Fain.
